Flushing-valve.



W. A. HUNTER, IL-61'; F. W. BASSBTT.

FLUSHING VALVE. APPLIOATION FILED 00111,

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

UINTER, JR. & i WQBASSETT.

FLUSHING VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED 00111, 1910.

W. A.H

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

' 2 SHEETS-"SHEET 2.

UNITED STATEh FATENT UFFTtl/Ei.

'WXIJLIAM A. HUNTER, JR., AND FOSTER W. BASSETT, 013 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FLUSHING-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 30, 1.912,

:AppHcation filed October 11, 1910. Serial No. 586,547.

To an whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, \VLLLIAM A. HUN- TER, J12, and Fos'rnn \V. Bnssn'r'r, both citi Zens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flushing-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flushing valves, and one of the main objects of the invention is to provide hydraulic mea'ns instead of the manual means heretofore employed for opening the valve which controls the outward flow of water from the tank to the discharge pipe.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view through the valve and lower portion of the tank to which it is applied. Fig. 2 is a section on line m a; Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view in detail of the operatinghandle. Fig. is an enlarged end view of the stationary cam with which the operating cam cooperates. Fig. 5 is a section on line afi-w Fig. t. Fig. 6 is a front. elevation, partly in section, showing the flushing valve located at a distance from the tank. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the valve as arranged in an apparatus operated by a push button, with the tank located in the wall. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sec tional view through the push button and valve. Fig. 9 is a side elevation showing the automatic operation of the valve.

1 designates the tank which is sealed and in its lower portion is screwed an cxtcrnally and internally threaded bushing 2, above which projects a cage 3 with water passages 4 in its lower part and havi'nga vent 5 in its upper end. Screwed in the bushing2 is the upper end of a valve casing 6, which in its upper end is provided with a valve seat 7 preferably formed of a rubber ring.

8 designates a spherical valve which is adapted to rest normally on the seat 7 and prevent the escape of water from the tank 1 into the valve casing 6. The valve 8 is capable of floating and when on its seat 7 is heldthereon by the water pressure above it, there being no water within the casing 6 norinlally. The valve Sis guided and prevented from floating to the top of the tank 1 when released from its seat, by the cage 3.

The lower part of the valve casing 6 is enlarged to form a cylinder 9 and slidable therein is a hollow piston 10, the flange 11 of which at one side is provided with a slot- 12. The piston fits freely in the cylinder 9 and is prevented from lateral movement by a screw 13 which serves to hold that side of the piston containing the slot 12 closely against the adjacent side of the cylinder 9. The lower end of the cylinder 9 is closed by a cap 14.

having water passages 16, which are adapted to communicate with a water chamber 17 in the cylinder 9 above the piston 10. The space between the valve 8 and cylinder 9 and within the sleeve forms a compression chamber 8 The' sleeve 15 also has water passages 42. water passage 18, the upper end of which is normally closed by a ball 19. The passage 18 at its lower end communicates with a lateral port 20, the size of which is regulated by a screw 21.

A discharge passage 22 is formed in the cylinder 9, communicating with the water chamber 17 Extending'laterally from the cylinder 9 is an arm 23 which is formed with a vertical passage 24:, the lower end of which has acheck valve 25 and-a pipe 26 communicates with the upper end of the.

passage 24 and serves to conduct water into the tank 1, the upper end of pipe 26 having perforations 27 which diffuse the water and prevent noise. The supply of water to the device is conducted to the check valve 25 and fiows upward through passage 24 and pipe 26 into the tank 1. The arm 23 also has a horizontal passage 28 which, as shown in Fig. 2, extends around the passage 24, but is adapted to communicate with the passage 24: through a. port 29 which is normally closed by a valve 30, the valve 30 being carried on a stem 31 which projects through a stationary cam 32 which is screwed to the end of the arm 23.

A coil compression spring 33 is interposed between the valve 30 and a flanged sleeve 34 and serves to normally hold the valve 30 closed.- Revolubly mounted on the valve stem 31 is a cam 35, shown in detail in Fig. 3, having two projecting portions 36 and two receding portions 37 which are adapted to co-act with projecting portions 38 on .the cam 32, so that when the cam is rocked, its projections 36 will operate over the face of cam 32 and shift the cam 35 longitudinally, thereby moving outward the valve stem 31 through the medium of a washer 39 Carried by the piston 10 is a" valve lifting device comprising a sleeve 15" The piston 10. has a on the end of the valve stem 31 which is confined by a screw 10.

The cam 35 may be operated by handle 41. When the handle 41 extends in vertical position, the receding portions 37 of cam 35 fit the projecting portions 38 of cam .32 and valve stem 31 stands to the right with the valve 30 againstits seat. By moving the handle 41 in either direction, the projecting portions 36 will ride over the inclined face of cam 32, thereby moving the valve stem 31 to the left and opening valve 30, which will remain open until the handle 14 is released, the valve 30 closing automati.-'

cally when the handle is released. Wheni" I understood that the ball valve 19 is closed the valve 30 is thus open water will passv from the inlet passage 24: through port-29 into passage 28, thence through the slot 12 into .the cylinder 9 below the piston 10. This sudden inrush of water lifts the piston 10, the port 20 being so small that only a sufficient amount of water passes outwardly therethrough, and as piston 10 lifts, itraises the sleeve 15 and closes ports 16 immediately, whereupon water passes up through port '18, lifting ball valve 19 and enters the compression chamber 8 and compresses the column of air therein until the pressure of air equalizes the pressure of water above the ball valve 8, whereupon the latter is lifted by the compressed air under it and by rea-' son of its buoyancy immediately floats to the top of the cage 3. The Water which flows upwardpast the ball valve 19 continues to pass into the sleeve 15 after the latter has lifted and closed ports 16, and as the water cannot escape and continues to accumulate within the sleeve, pressure within the sleeve is raised sufficiently to lift the ball 8 from its scat. This accumulation of water within the sleeve 15 and consequent 'lise of air pressure therein, occurs during the interval after the closing of parts 16 and before the upper edge of sleeve 15 would reach the ball 8 as the upward movement of the sleeve 15 is gradual,'while the rise of air pressure is very sudden. If the ball should stick to its seat and this accumulated air pressure is not suflicient to lift it, the ball will be positively lifted after a very slight upward movement of the sleeve 15 beyond the point where the ports 16 are closed, this lifting movement of the sleeve 15 being caused by the upward pressure of water below the piston 10, the area of the piston 10 being greater than the area of the port closed by the valve 8. After the valve 8 is raised water fromthe tank 1 flows through the water ports a and passes into the interior of the casing 6 and strikes against the bottom of the sleeve 15 and moves down the sleeve 15, and the check valve 19 closes by reason of the admission of water-t0 the passage 28 having been stopped by; the automatio closure of valve 30. Thesleeve 15,

as it moves down, opens the water ports 16 and the water from within the sleeve then passes out through the ports 16 into the rater chamber 17 ,thence out through the out let passage 22. The sleeve 15 does not move down until the handle 41 has been released to permit the valve 30 to close and shut off the supply of water below the piston 10. As soon as the supply of water below the piston 10 is shut. off ,the piston 10 is permit-- ted to move down, on account of its loose fit .in the casing 9, the water from below the piston passing between the side of the casf ing and the piston 9 into the space above the piston as the piston settles. It should be 30 by the down-rushing water from'the tank 1, during the downward movement of the piston 10 and that it is not necessary for the ball 19 to lift to permit this downward motion of the piston 10 as that is allowed by the loose fit of the piston 10 in the casing 9. After the piston 10 has lowered, the space above the ball valve 19 is open to at mospheric pressure through the passage 22, so that when the valve 30 is opened to. again permit water to enter below the pis vton 10, there is no opposition above the ball 19 to prevent it from being lifted by the water which enters below the piston The downward movement of the piston and sleeve is retarded by the rate of passage of water through the small port 20, the size of which may be adjusted by screw 21, and this retardation of the piston and sleeve enables all of the air compressed in the compression chamber 8 to pass into the tank, thereby insuring a proper supply of air to the tank. Water continues to flow out from tank 1 and when the level of water in tank 1 approaches the bottom of the tank, the ball 8 commences to float downwardly and when nearly all of the water has escaped from the tank, the ball 8 seats. It should be understood that during this emptying of the tank 1 water continues to flow into the tank v through the pipe 26, but not fast enough to prevent the emptying of the tank 1. After the valve 8 seats, the tank 1 commences to fill from pipe 26. Should the sleeve 15 be come loose in the casing 6, the air is pre rented from escaping by the water which enters and acts as a seal. It should be understood that the ball valve 8 is lifted by the column of air compressedin the COl1l- 12o pression chamber 8 by the water which enters by way of the sleeve 15 through the" passage 18. If the ball 8 should stick on seat, which might rarely happen after; long period in which the valve was 1 1 used, the upper edge of the sleeve will 1 H the ball 8 by reason of the greater area of the piston 10 over that of the ball 8. The

air in tank 1 is replenished by that which was compressed in the eon'ipression chamber .130

2 ignates 35 pipe 5 the valve cage 3 is located within an intermediate chamber 43 instead of in the tank .1, the chamber 43 being connected with tank 1 by a pipe l The valve casing 6 is connected to the lower part of intermediate re chamber in exactly the same manner in which it is connected to the tank 1. l5 designates a pipe for admitting air to the chamber 43'.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 7, the

intermediate chamber 13 is employed externally of the wall 46, the tank 1 being arranged behind the wall 46. 4 1 is the pipe leading from the tank 1 to the chamber 4C3. 26 is the filling pipe leading to the tank 1 O and provided with a check valve 47. In

this -.arrangement the valve 48, shown in Fig. 8, corresponds to the valve 30 of Fig. 1, valve l8 normally closing a port 19 and being located in a valve chamber 50. 51 desthe valve stem which extends through a plug 52 in the end of the valve chamber, the valve stem 51 having flanges on its end which are engaged by a forked lever 54. pivoted at 55 and having a button 30 56 on its end which projects through the casing 57. As shown in Fig. 7, the casing 57 is located externally of the wall so that push button 56 is in a convenient position. The valve chamber 50 is connected to the 2G above the check valve 47, and a pipe 58 leads from the .chamber 50 to the cylinder 9, and the pipe 58 corresponds to the passage 28 of Figs. 1 and 2. Thus when the push button 56 is pressed in, the valve 49 18 will be opened, whereupon water from pipe 26 enters through the port 19 into the valve chamber 50, thence passes through the ipe 58 to the cylinder 9 underneath valve 10 and lifts the latter, thereby opening valve 8, whereupon the operation of the parts is as heretofore described. Upon the release of the push button 56, the spring 59 immedi ately closes theyalve 4E8.

In Fig. 9, the end of the valve stem 31 carries an rm 60 instead of the handle all, and

a pin 61 may be adjustably secured at vari ous'points in the arm 60, the latter having a series of perforations 62 for that purpose. Connected with the pin 61is the slotted end 63 of a link 64 which is pivotally connected to a bracket 65 carried by the lever 66, the latter having a weight 67 which normally holds the lever 66 slightly raised. When the lever 66, is depressed, the arm 65,

50 through the medium of link 6 1, rocks the arm 60, thereby opening the valve 30, the latter remaining opened while the lever 66 is depressed, and as soon as the lever 66 is raised by weight 67 the arm is allowed to move to its normal position and the valve 30 closes. By unscrewing the cap 1.4:, all the arts within the casing may be removed.

lVhat we claim is: 1

1. A tank, a discharge pipe, a valve for controlling the passage of water from the tank to the discharge pipe, a compression chamber in communication with said valve, a cylinder below said chamber, a piston in the cylinder, and means for admitting water on one side of said piston, said piston having a passage connnunicaling directly with said compressidn chamber for the water to pass through to compress air in the chamber on the'other side thereof and cause said compressed air to open said valve.

2. A tank, a discharge pipe therefor, a valve for controlling the passage ofwater from the tank to the discharge pipe, a compression chamber in communication with said valve, a cylinder below said chamber, a piston in the cylinder, the piston. having a vertical port communicating directly with the compression chamber permitting a limited amount of water to pass from below the piston to above the piston to compress air above the piston under the valve to lift the latter, and means for admitting water into said :ylinder at one side of said piston to operate the latter and cause air to be compressed in the chamber to open said valve.

3. A tank, a discharge pipe, a valve for controlling the passage of-water from the tank to the discharge pipe, a compression chamber in communication with said valve, a cylinder below said chamber, a piston in said cylinder having a port communicating with the space above and below the piston, water supply means for supplying water to said cylinder at one side of the piston, the water passing through the piston and compressing air to lift said valve, and a valve for controlling said water supply means, whereby water may be admitted to the cylinder to operate the piston and compress the air to open said first valve.

4:. A tank, a casing secured thereto, an

outlet pipe connected with the casing a' valve normally preventing water from en tering the casing from the tank, a cylinder formed in said casing, a piston in the cylinder, a sleeve carried by the piston and having ports communicating'with the cylinder when the piston is in its lower position, said ports being shut when the piston and sleeve are moved into their upper position, said piston having a port communicating directly with the space above and below the piston, and means for admitting water into said cylindpr below the piston and through the piston to lift the same and also compress air above the piston to lift said valve.

A tank, a casing secured thereto, an outlet pipe connected with the casing, a valve normally preventing water from entering the casing from the tank, a compression chamber below said valve, a cylinder formed in said casing, apiston in the cylinder, a'sleeve carried by the piston and having ports communicating with the cylinder when the piston is in its lower position, said ports being shut when the piston and sleeve are moved into their upper position, means for admitting water into said cylinder below the piston to lift the same, a port extending vertically through said piston and conununicating directly with the compression chamber, and a check valve permitting the upward passage of water through said port and preventing the downward passage of water therethrough.

6. A tank, a casing secured thereto and having a valve seat at its upper end, a valve normally resting on said seat, a valve cage for guiding a valve when it leaves its seat, a cylinder formed in'said casing, a piston in noaaoaa the cylinder, the piston having a port communicating directly with the space above and below the piston, a sleeve carried by the piston, said sleeve having ports which are shut off when the piston is raised, means for admitting Water through the piston into the cylinder to raise the piston whereby air is compressed within the sleeve when the ports are closed, the sleeve being of a length to contact with the valve and lift the same if it sticks -to its seat.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set ours hands at Los Angeles, California, this 6 dayoi October, 1910.

WI LLTAIW HUNTER, J R. V EOQTER W. BASSETT.

In presence of Gnome T. HAOKLEY, FRANK L. A. GRAHAM. 

